"Similar testimonials were included by his co-stars and colleagues; Bryan Cranston stated that his ""Breaking Bad"" character, Walter White, would not have existed without Tony Soprano. Tony Soprano quickly became a pop culture icon during the show’s run. In an article for the ""Los Angeles Times"", Chris Lee referred to Tony Soprano as a “cultural sensation” who became the “unlikeliest of sex symbols.” On the importance of Gandolfini’s performance, Lee stated: “He forever rejiggered television's fascination with morally challenged antiheroes and less-than-physically-perfect protagonists.” Mark Lawson of ""The Guardian"" praised Gandolfini for his “towering central performance” as Tony Soprano, writing: “The"
"film ""Her"" is dedicated to Gandolfini. Jonze and Gandolfini had previously worked together on ""Where the Wild Things Are"". In 2014, Gandolfini was posthumously inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. James Gandolfini James Joseph Gandolfini Jr. (September 18, 1961 – June 19, 2013) was an American actor best known for his role as Tony Soprano, the Italian-American crime boss in HBO's television series ""The Sopranos"". He was widely hailed for his performance, winning three Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and one Golden Globe Award. His notable film roles include mob henchman Virgil in ""True Romance"" (1993),"
"James Gandolfini James Joseph Gandolfini Jr. (September 18, 1961 – June 19, 2013) was an American actor best known for his role as Tony Soprano, the Italian-American crime boss in HBO's television series ""The Sopranos"". He was widely hailed for his performance, winning three Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and one Golden Globe Award. His notable film roles include mob henchman Virgil in ""True Romance"" (1993), Lt. Bobby Dougherty in ""Crimson Tide"" (1995), and Mayor of New York in ""The Taking of Pelham 123"" (2009). Other roles are enforcer and stuntman Bear in ""Get Shorty"" (1995) and impulsive"
"Joseph Siravo Joseph Siravo (born February 12, 1957) is an American actor known for his role as Tony Soprano's father Johnny Soprano on the HBO series, ""The Sopranos"". Siravo is a graduate of both Stanford University and New York University's Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts. Siravo's screen debut was in the 1993 film ""Carlito's Way"". His character, Vincent ""Vinnie"" Taglialucci, seeks revenge for the death of his father and brother at the hands of a corrupt lawyer (Sean Penn) while accusing Carlito Brigante (Al Pacino) of assisting in the murder. Siravo was cast in 1999"
"and one grandson. Tony Lip Tony Lip (born Frank Anthony Vallelonga; July 30, 1930January 4, 2013) was an American actor and occasional author, best known for his portrayal of crime boss Carmine Lupertazzi in the HBO series ""The Sopranos"". He portrayed real-life Bonanno crime family mobster Philip Giaccone in ""Donnie Brasco"", and real-life Lucchese crime family mobster Francesco Manzo in ""Goodfellas"". It was at the Copacabana Nightclub where he first met Francis Ford Coppola and Louis DiGiamo, leading to a small role in ""The Godfather"", his film debut. He also co-wrote his own book in 2005 named ""Shut Up And"
"at the age of 70 in Massapequa, New York, in September 2017. Greg Antonacci Gregory Gerald Antonacci (February 2, 1947 – September 20, 2017) was an American television actor, director, producer, and writer. He is best known for portraying Johnny Torrio in ""Boardwalk Empire"" in every season, from 2010 to 2014, and as Phil Leotardo's right-hand man Butch DeConcini in ""The Sopranos"" from 2006 to the season finale in 2007. Antonacci was born in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. As a director, producer, and writer, he worked on a number of television series, including ""Busting Loose"", ""Brothers"", ""The Tortellis"", ""Perfect Strangers"", ""The"
"Tony Lip Tony Lip (born Frank Anthony Vallelonga; July 30, 1930January 4, 2013) was an American actor and occasional author, best known for his portrayal of crime boss Carmine Lupertazzi in the HBO series ""The Sopranos"". He portrayed real-life Bonanno crime family mobster Philip Giaccone in ""Donnie Brasco"", and real-life Lucchese crime family mobster Francesco Manzo in ""Goodfellas"". It was at the Copacabana Nightclub where he first met Francis Ford Coppola and Louis DiGiamo, leading to a small role in ""The Godfather"", his film debut. He also co-wrote his own book in 2005 named ""Shut Up And Eat!"" His time"
"Greg Antonacci Gregory Gerald Antonacci (February 2, 1947 – September 20, 2017) was an American television actor, director, producer, and writer. He is best known for portraying Johnny Torrio in ""Boardwalk Empire"" in every season, from 2010 to 2014, and as Phil Leotardo's right-hand man Butch DeConcini in ""The Sopranos"" from 2006 to the season finale in 2007. Antonacci was born in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan. As a director, producer, and writer, he worked on a number of television series, including ""Busting Loose"", ""Brothers"", ""The Tortellis"", ""Perfect Strangers"", ""The Royal Family"", ""The John Larroquette Show"", ""Herman's Head"", ""It's a Living"", ""Soap"","
"The Sopranos The Sopranos is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase. The story revolves around fictional New Jersey-based, Italian American mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini). The series portrays the difficulties that he faces as he tries to balance his home life and his criminal organization. These are explained during his therapy sessions with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). The series features Tony's family members, mafia colleagues, and rivals in prominent roles and story arcs, most notably his wife Carmela (Edie Falco) and protégé Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli). The pilot was ordered in 1997, and the show"
"original choices for the role of Tony Soprano. David Proval David Aaron Proval (born May 20, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American actor, known for his roles as Tony DeVienazo in the Martin Scorsese film ""Mean Streets"" (1973) and as Richie Aprile on the HBO television series ""The Sopranos"" (1999–2007). Proval was born in Brooklyn, New York, of Jewish heritage, the son of Clara Katz, an actress from Bucharest, Romania. He has appeared in such feature films as ""The Shawshank Redemption"", ""The Phantom"", ""Mob Queen"", ""Four Rooms"", ""UHF"", ""Innocent Blood"", ""The Siege"", ""The Monster Squad"", ""Bookies"", ""Balls of"
"his portrayal of William Shakespeare in the episode ""Henry Winkler Meets William Shakespeare"" on the program ""The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People"". His best-known television role was that of Tony Soprano's father-in-law, Hugh De Angelis on the HBO series ""The Sopranos"". He was married to stage and screen costume designer Theoni V. Aldredge from 1953 until her death on January 21, 2011. Aldredge died July 22, 2011 in a hospice in Tampa, Florida from lymphoma, aged 83. Tom Aldredge Thomas Ernest Aldredge (February 28, 1928 – July 22, 2011) was an American television, film and stage actor,"
"mobster. In 1995 he was in the box office hit ""Crimson Tide"". In that same year in ""Get Shorty"" (1995), he appeared as a bearded ex-stuntman with a Southern accent, and in ""The Juror"" (1996), he played a mob enforcer with a conscience. Gandolfini received widespread acclaim for his performance as Tony Soprano, the lead character in the HBO drama ""The Sopranos"", a New Jersey mob boss and family man whose constant existential questioning includes regular psychiatric appointments. The show debuted in 1999 and was broadcast until 2007. For his depiction of Soprano, Gandolfini won three Emmys for ""Best Actor"
"Best Male Actor in a Drama Series and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama as well as two additional SAG Awards for Best Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Tony Soprano was born in 1959, to Livia and Johnny Soprano. His father was a ""capo"" in the DiMeo crime family. He grew up living with his parents and two sisters, Janice and Barbara, in the Ironbound neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey. Tony's paternal grandfather, Corrado Soprano Sr., was an Italian immigrant and master stonemason who helped to build a church in Tony's old"
"""Love Stories"", the 13th episode of the fifth season of the CBS police procedural drama ""Blue Bloods"". Siravo also portrayed Fred Goldman, father of murder victim Ronald Goldman, in the 2016 FX miniseries, """". On stage, Siravo played more than 1,000 performances as Gyp DeCarlo in the first national tour of ""Jersey Boys"". Joseph Siravo Joseph Siravo (born February 12, 1957) is an American actor known for his role as Tony Soprano's father Johnny Soprano on the HBO series, ""The Sopranos"". Siravo is a graduate of both Stanford University and New York University's Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School"
"Vincent Palermo Vincent ""Vinny Ocean"" Palermo (born June 4, 1944) is a former Italian-American mobster who was ""de facto"" boss of the New Jersey DeCavalcante crime family before becoming a government witness. Fictional mob boss Tony Soprano, the protagonist of the HBO series ""The Sopranos"", is said to be based upon Palermo. Palermo was raised in a traditional Italian family in Brooklyn, New York. He has five sisters, including Claire and Nancy, and one brother. His father was an Italian immigrant who moved to New York when he was a teenager. Palermo came from a close-knit family, and was said"
"researching and treating the causes of aging. Ray Abruzzo Ray Abruzzo (born August 12, 1954) is a Sicilian-American actor. He is a graduate of Christ the King High School in Middle Village, Queens, New York. Abruzzo was born in Queens, New York City on August 12, 1954. Abruzzo made regular appearances in ""Dynasty"" (as police sergeant John Zorelli), ""The Practice"" (as Detective Michael McGuire); and ""The Sopranos"" (as ""Little"" Carmine Lupertazzi). He also played the part of Tony Guiliano, Christine Sullivan's fiancé, husband, and then ex-husband on the NBC-TV series ""Night Court"". Other television credits include a 1989 ""Change Of"
"Stewie, who had insulted Italians, calling them ""ridiculous people"". In 2018, he reunited with former Sopranos actors, Federico Castelluccio and Vincent Pastore, in ""Sarah Q"". Sirico's brother, Robert Sirico, is a Catholic priest and co-founder of the free-market Acton Institute. Tony Sirico Genaro Anthony Sirico Jr. (born July 29, 1942) is an American actor, best known for his role as Paul ""Paulie Walnuts"" Gualtieri in ""The Sopranos"" and various roles in the films of Woody Allen. Sirico was born in New York City, New York on July 29, 1942. As a teenager, Sirico was part of a street gang which"
"Carmela Soprano Carmela Soprano (""née"" DeAngelis), played by Edie Falco, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series ""The Sopranos"". She is the wife of Mafia boss Tony Soprano. Edie Falco's performance as Carmela was universally lauded. She won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 1999, 2001 and 2003, and received six nominations for her role in the series. Falco has also won two Golden Globe Awards and three Screen Actors Guild Awards. Carmela was Tony Soprano's high school sweetheart, and the couple married at a young age. They have two children together: Meadow"
"Rocco Sisto Rocco Sisto (born February 18, 1953) is an Italian stage, film, television, and voice actor. Sisto was born on February 18, 1953 in Bari, Italy, and moved to Addison, Illinois at an unknown age. He attended and graduated Addison Trail High School in 1971 and studied acting at New York University's Graduate Acting Program at the Tisch School of the Arts, graduating in 1977. On TV, he played the young Junior Soprano in the HBO series"" The Sopranos"". He has appeared as well in ""Law & Order"", """", """", ""Madam Secretary"" and ""Blue Bloods"". In film he has"
"thought Van Zandt was very funny, and contacted him a few days later. It was then that Chase discovered Van Zandt had no acting experience. Van Zandt was reluctant to audition for Chase but eventually relented. His first audition was for the role of the show's main character, Tony Soprano. However, Van Zandt wanted the role to go to a more experienced, ""real"" actor. The character of Silvio Dante was actually based on a character created for a short story written by Van Zandt. His role on ""The Sopranos"" increased in importance in later seasons, with sixth season plot developments"
"Anthony Ribustello Anthony J. Ribustello is an American actor and Republican activist. He is perhaps best known for his role as Dante Greco, Tony Soprano's driver on the HBO series, ""The Sopranos"". In April 2009, Ribustello ran for Bronx Borough President as the Republican candidate in a special election to replace incumbent Democrat Adolfo Carrion, who resigned to take a position in the Obama Administration. Ribustello received about 13 percent of the vote in the overwhelmingly Democratic borough, losing to Democratic Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. In addition to acting, Ribustello is also employed at the New York City Board of"
"Anthony Soprano Jr. Anthony John ""A.J."" Soprano Jr. (born July 15, 1986), played by Robert Iler, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series ""The Sopranos"". He is the son of Carmela and Tony Soprano. Anthony is the troubled younger brother of Tony and Carmela's more accomplished daughter, Meadow. A chronic underachiever with self-esteem issues, A.J. is diagnosed as borderline ADD. Additionally, he crashes his mother's car, smokes marijuana at his own confirmation, gets drunk on stolen communion wine, vandalizes his school swimming pool, and is finally expelled after cheating on a test. As a result, his parents arrange"
"Bobby Baccalieri Robert ""Bobby Baccalà"" Baccalieri, Jr., played by Steve Schirripa, is a fictional character on the HBO series ""The Sopranos"". (In Italian, """" is salted and dried cod.) A mobster, Bobby is first shown as one of the soldiers and then later top aides to Corrado ""Junior"" Soprano. Throughout the series, he rises through the ranks of the organized crime organization, becoming a capo, as well as Tony Soprano's brother-in-law. In ""Soprano Home Movies,"" when discussing Bobby Baccalieri after the fight, Tony thought he was 42 or 43 making him born in 1964 or 1965. The actor Steven Schirripa"
"and 2007, respectively. The first season was released on Blu-ray in 2009. A complete series box set was released on Blu-ray on November 4, 2014. The Sopranos The Sopranos is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase. The story revolves around fictional New Jersey-based, Italian American mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini). The series portrays the difficulties that he faces as he tries to balance his home life and his criminal organization. These are explained during his therapy sessions with psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco). The series features Tony's family members, mafia colleagues, and rivals in prominent roles"
"Ray Abruzzo Ray Abruzzo (born August 12, 1954) is a Sicilian-American actor. He is a graduate of Christ the King High School in Middle Village, Queens, New York. Abruzzo was born in Queens, New York City on August 12, 1954. Abruzzo made regular appearances in ""Dynasty"" (as police sergeant John Zorelli), ""The Practice"" (as Detective Michael McGuire); and ""The Sopranos"" (as ""Little"" Carmine Lupertazzi). He also played the part of Tony Guiliano, Christine Sullivan's fiancé, husband, and then ex-husband on the NBC-TV series ""Night Court"". Other television credits include a 1989 ""Change Of Heart"" episode of Empty Nest, where he"
"Elections. Anthony Ribustello Anthony J. Ribustello is an American actor and Republican activist. He is perhaps best known for his role as Dante Greco, Tony Soprano's driver on the HBO series, ""The Sopranos"". In April 2009, Ribustello ran for Bronx Borough President as the Republican candidate in a special election to replace incumbent Democrat Adolfo Carrion, who resigned to take a position in the Obama Administration. Ribustello received about 13 percent of the vote in the overwhelmingly Democratic borough, losing to Democratic Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. In addition to acting, Ribustello is also employed at the New York City Board"
"Livia Soprano Olivia ""Livia"" Soprano (née Pollio), played by Nancy Marchand, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series ""The Sopranos"". She is the mother of Tony Soprano. A young Livia, played by Laila Robins and later by Laurie J. Williams is sometimes seen in flashbacks. Series creator David Chase has stated that the main inspiration for the character was his own mother. In 2016, ""Rolling Stone"" ranked her #3 of their ""40 Greatest TV Villains of All Time"". Olivia Pollio Soprano was born in Providence, Rhode Island to Teresa and Faustino ""Augie"" Pollio, Italian immigrants from Avellino. Livia's"
"LaPaglia was sent a script for the pilot of ""The Sopranos"" and met its creator, David Chase, to discuss the role of protagonist Tony Soprano. However, various factors, including his Broadway role, prevented LaPaglia obtaining the role. ""'The Sopranos' thing didn't work out ... and of course it did work out perfectly, because the right person ended up with the role. You can't imagine that show without James Gandolfini."" LaPaglia did, however, later play (in an uncredited 2002 cameo) an actor in a ""Sopranos""-style TV show-within-a-film, in the comedy movie ""Analyze That"". (In 2007, ""The Sopranos"" reciprocated, by featuring LaPaglia's"
"David Proval David Aaron Proval (born May 20, 1942 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American actor, known for his roles as Tony DeVienazo in the Martin Scorsese film ""Mean Streets"" (1973) and as Richie Aprile on the HBO television series ""The Sopranos"" (1999–2007). Proval was born in Brooklyn, New York, of Jewish heritage, the son of Clara Katz, an actress from Bucharest, Romania. He has appeared in such feature films as ""The Shawshank Redemption"", ""The Phantom"", ""Mob Queen"", ""Four Rooms"", ""UHF"", ""Innocent Blood"", ""The Siege"", ""The Monster Squad"", ""Bookies"", ""Balls of Fury"", had cameos in ""The Brady Bunch Movie"""
"in there."" Tony Blundetto Anthony Blundetto, played by Steve Buscemi, is a fictional character on the HBO TV series ""The Sopranos"". He is Tony Soprano's cousin who is released from prison at the beginning of the show's . Upon release, Tony Blundetto begins to pursue a straight, non-criminal life. However, he is eventually overpowered by the challenges of civilian life and turns back to crime, dragging the DiMeo crime family into the Lupertazzi crime family's power struggle. For his work in season 5, Buscemi received critical acclaim and was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in"
"Tony Sirico Genaro Anthony Sirico Jr. (born July 29, 1942) is an American actor, best known for his role as Paul ""Paulie Walnuts"" Gualtieri in ""The Sopranos"" and various roles in the films of Woody Allen. Sirico was born in New York City, New York on July 29, 1942. As a teenager, Sirico was part of a street gang which had feuds with communities of African-Americans and the Irish. He later recalled that he was shot on the steps of St Brendan's Catholic Church in Brooklyn, by a rival Irish thug. Before turning to acting, he was convicted of several"
"Michael Rispoli Michael Rispoli is an American character actor. He was in the cast of the HBO television series ""The Sopranos"" as Jackie Aprile, Sr. Rispoli reunited with ""Sopranos"" co-star James Gandolfini in the 2009 thriller ""The Taking of Pelham 123"". Rispoli was a contender for the role of Tony Soprano that ultimately went to Gandolfini. Rispoli, a second-generation Italian American, was raised in Tappan, New York, one of eight children, and attended Tappan Zee High School, where he played football. He majored in theater at State University of New York at Plattsburgh and graduated in 1982. The feature film"
"to Bobby's children, with Tony overseeing it. Bobby Baccalieri Robert ""Bobby Baccalà"" Baccalieri, Jr., played by Steve Schirripa, is a fictional character on the HBO series ""The Sopranos"". (In Italian, """" is salted and dried cod.) A mobster, Bobby is first shown as one of the soldiers and then later top aides to Corrado ""Junior"" Soprano. Throughout the series, he rises through the ranks of the organized crime organization, becoming a capo, as well as Tony Soprano's brother-in-law. In ""Soprano Home Movies,"" when discussing Bobby Baccalieri after the fight, Tony thought he was 42 or 43 making him born in"